SA plays beer guinea pigs

Two beers, Indio and Third Shift, have launched in San Antonio in advance of national rollouts proving once again that our beer demographics are much beloved by those selling certain types of beer.

Just out on shelves is Indio, a Mexican beer from a company recently purchased by global beer giant Heineken. Indio is a smooth amber lager with a little more character than some of its brother beers in the portfolio such as Dos Equis, Tecate, and Sol.

No doubt bringing this brew to the seven markets in Texas and California has a lot to do with the successful launch of Victoria in those same markets last year.

They are primarily targeting young Hispanic males who also happen to be urban and acculturated — about one in five, according to the company.

"Seemingly nobody can resist the siren call to capture the stomach share of Hispanics or Millennials, and especially Hispanic Millennials," writes Harry Schuhmacher, editor and publisher of San Antonio-based Beer Business Daily. "With both contingencies' growing number and the latter's fondness for beer over other (alcoholic beverage) categories, it's no wonder."

MillerCoors Brewing Co. also has set its sights on San Antonio as a rollout market for its new brew Third Shift. The aim of the beer is to capture the taste buds of a beer drinker that primarily drinks mainstream, but is looking for some additional flavors.
The amber brew is still easy drinking, but has some caramel notes and more hop character without going into the deep end like a stout or bitter IPA.

Pints for Prostates

The Flying Saucer Draught Emporium, including the San Antonio location at Huebner and I-10, is helping raise money for the national awareness program Pints for Prostates with a month of Belgian beer specials and glasses on "Brewery Night."

For a month of Wednesdays starting June 27, the Flying Saucer will raise money from the sale of a signature Belgian beer glass specific to that brewery. The first 144 people each of those nights also get a deal on the beer that goes in the glass.

Proceeds from the glass sales go to support the cause and come with a raffle ticket for a chance to win a trip for two through BeerTrips.com to Belgium in September. The drawing for all 15 Saucer locations will be on Belgian Independence Day at Charlotte, N.C., July 21.

"It is great to be working with The Flying Saucer Draught Emporium because they will help us reach thousands of men with a lifesaving message about the importance of early detection," said Rick Lyke, a beer journalist who had successful prostate cancer surgery in 2008. "Men are 33 percent more likely to develop prostate cancer than women are to have breast cancer, yet few men know about the critical importance of early detection."

Travis E. Poling is beer writer for the Current and is co-author of Beer Across Texas: A Guide to Brews and Brewmasters of the Lone Star State. You can hear him March 8 at The Friendly Spot Ice House leading the monthly Beerducation series.